Welcome to the inaugural recap of season 4 of “Scandal!” We have new names, new characters, a new case of the week (yawn), and perhaps most importantly of all, a new Mellie. Let’s get to it.

Where in the world is Olivia Pope? Having the most amazing permanent vacation of all time, that’s what. She has expensive red wine, curly beach hair, almost zero connection to the outside world, and of course, Jake, who takes his role as Olivia’s Pleasurer-in-Chief very, very seriously.